If you own a house, it is very likely that your house is vulnerable for possible termite invasion. If you live in one of the Southern states, it is almost guaranteed that your house is vulnerable from termite attacks. And if you live in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, you have almost 90% chance that your house is in constant danger from termite damage.

Termites are just deadly. Just in the United States alone, it is said that more than $5 billion dollars of damage is caused by termites each year. If you are a home owner, it is a smart idea to understand how to inspect for termites and learn some of the signs of termites to prevent your house from being attacked by termites.

The Most Common Signs of Termites

Termite Mud Tubes

1) Because termites live in mud tubes on the walls of your house or outdoor structures, it is easy to spot mud tubes. Inspect where the wood material meets the soil. The size of the mud tube can vary. Once you see one, break them to see if you see any termite activity is going on inside the tube.

2) Another sign of termites is the tunneling in wood. This is little harder to spot, but if you are lucky enough to find small tunnels inside the wooden structure or the wall, it is very likely that the damage is beyond what you can see. If this is the case, it is time to hire a professional termite inspector. And expect to pay a fortune repairing the damage if you find them late.

3) One of the easiest sign of termites to recognize is the droppings. These little bugs leave behind droppings and other weird stuff such as their wings. Sometimes you will find paint chips and dusty material near the termite damage.

There are more ways to inspect for termite infestations. But these are the ones that any homeowner can do without any professional equipments. Take an hour or so every month to check for these signs of termites. It will save your house and your money if you do it right.

One of our readers asked me this question via email. She is planning on purchasing a house and she has a great deal on the price of the house. One thing she's worried about is that during house inspection, the inspector found some signs of termite damage. The inspector couldn't find any live termites, but the damage was visible. The owner of the house was willing to pay for the repair, which is around $2,000. Should she sign the contract or just walk away?

This is really a tough question to answer without looking at the house myself. If the termite damage was minor, according to the inspector, I'd consider purchasing the house after proper repair and treatment. But the real problem is what you can not see. Termite damage is usually done inside walls or places where we can't see.

If I were the buyer of that house, I'd invest few hundred dollars for professional termite inspectors who actually check inside the walls and climb inside the ceiling, and etc. I'm not talking about big franchise termite control companies whose reps are usually more into sales. I'm talking about professional termite inspectors who does only that. It will be a great investment for you. Even ask the home owner to pay or share the inspection fee.

Personally, I'd walk away from the deal if I see any signs of termite damage, even if it's a minor one. I've seen my house crumble down because of these little termites myself, so I'm little biased. If you have the deal that you can't refuse, I'd invest in a few professional termite inspectors who have great reputation.

This is a visitor submitted question few weeks ago. He is planning on buying a house, but the inspector found termite damage on the roof and he is wondering if it's worth going for the house if the seller is promising to fix the problem by hiring an exterminator.

If I were him, I'd pass. Termite usually eat their way up. I bet there are termite damages in other areas where your eyes can't detect if the damage was found on the roof. It is great that the seller is willing to be responsible for treating termites, but is he willing to repair the damages already done by termites? You might want to ask that question. Treating termites from future damages is not as pricey as repairing the damage already done on the house.

My advice is that take a look at other houses for sale without any termite troubles. With the real estate market as they are, it wouldn't be too hard to find a great deal. I'd would avoid the house you are looking at right now if I were you.

If you know exactly how to inspect for termites around your house, maybe DIY termite treatment is an option for you. But is it possible to purchase Termidor yourself? According to Termidor's official website, it states :

Termidor cannot be directly purchased or applied by homeowners. Only licensed pest control professionals who have taken Termidor Certification Training are authorized to purchase and apply Termidor.

But the truth is that you CAN purchase Termidor online without a problem. Even Amazon carries Termidor SC. Other online vendors say anyone can purchase and apply Termidor as long as it is used on their own property. But you have to be licensed if you are treating other peoples property.

There are states that doesn't allow Termidor to be used; AK, CT, NE, NY, SC, MA, IN Try an alternative if you live in one of these states. You might want to try Dominion's termiticide line. (Dominion termiticide is banned in AK, AS, HI, NY, PR as well)

Termidor is a great termiticide and it can be purchased by anyone. I really don't know why Termidor's official position is that only licensed professionals can use it, but make your own decision. I bet it has to do with legal & liability issues.

	TERMIDOR SC 20oz CONTAINER See Reviews For This Product
	Description The number one termite control product of any type! Termidor is the fastest and most effective way to eliminate termite populations. Active Ingredient : Fipronil: .......9.1Target Pests : Subterranean Termites, Formosan Termites, Outside Ants

I was worried about how safe is Termidor when my house was treated for termites. I did my research and all indications directed that it is safe for pets and children. Some articles indicate that fipronil, an ingredient in Termidor is dangerous, but there is no evidence found in any studies. Fipronil is even used on dogs and cats for flea control for many years as well.

When Termidor is applied, it is dilluted so that the fipronil is approximately 0.06%, which is really low. Also, Termidor doesn't leach through rainfall because of its bonding agent to soil. As a homeowner, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you use your common sense and treat Termidor as just other chemicals around your house. Don't drink it or rub your skin on it, or don't even lick it :)

I want to point out few things about the studies that claim fipronil caused thyroid tumors in lab rats who were fed fipronil over an extended period of time. When you look at the actual studies, you will find that these rats were fed thousands of higher dosage compared to normal. For example, just recently, some study came up with that coloring in coke has caused cancer in rats, but when you actually look at the studies, they gave ridiculous amount of them over an extended period of time.

So as I said above, as a homeowner, I wouldn't worry too much about the safety of Termidor. But if I'm the person who uses Termidor on daily basis as part of my job, I'd take extra measures to protect myself from any possible harms. In fact, there are few reports that people who worked with Termidor are suffering with thyroid and respiratory problems.

Treat it carefully, just like we treat bleach and other harmful chemicals, and let Termidor do its work; killing termites.

A typical liquid based termite treatments are known to last anywhere between 2-7 years. That's a broad spectrum of range, but just like everything else in the world, the effective period of a termite treatment can vary. For example, if termiticide is applied by a untrained person with no experience, there's a great chance that termite control is based on luck. Also environmental conditions and pH content of the soil can affect the longevity of the termite treatments.

Popular termiticides such as Termidor will last up to 7 years with 100% effective impact. Other termiticides like Dominion brand will last 7 years as well. Some other products can last anywhere between 2 - 7 years. But if you have termite treatment done by a pest control company, they will usually tell you in advance what kind of termiticide they use. If they don't tell you, ask them.

So I think I can say safely a typical liquid based termite treatments can last 5-7 years with full effect.

Termidor lables and MSDS' can be downloaded at the following link : Termidor Termticide

And if you are looking for a Termidor brochure, click here.

And here are some of the latest changes in the Termidor label.

Apply 0.06% Termidor SC or WG finished dilution where listed pests enter the structure, where they trail or crawl and hide or where their nests are found. Treat using a low-pressure course banded pressure spray up to 18 inches in width around doors, windows, vents, pipes, or any other exterior openings and/or with a Crack and Crevice injection tip into foundation cracks or drilled holes where listed pests could enter the structure. Be especially careful to treat the joint where exterior siding (wood, vinyl, aluminum or any similar material) meets the cement, block or brick foundation. Treat areas where any wires (electrical, telephone or cable) enter the house. Read More

The simple answer is "YES", with conditions. If your furniture is located inside of your house, it is extremely rare that termites survive in a furniture inside of your house. Termites must have soil to wood contact in order to survive. If you house is one of those historic houses with wooden floor touching the ground directly and your furniture is placed right on to it, well, there could be a chance, but I highly doubt this would be anyone's case.

Now, if your furniture is located outside, let's say your backyard, the story is different. Your furniture is in direct danger of termite invasion! But you can save your outdoor furniture from termites easily. Termites are big enough to be spotted with human eyes. If you see any signs of termites, just move your furniture to somewhere safe where it doesn't touch the ground.

There's a myth about cedar furniture. Many argue that cedar is resistant to termites because of the oil and resin in cedar, but experts say that they've seen enough to confirm that termites DO eat cedar. Termite eat outdoor cedar furniture and fencing when they are in direct contact with ground plus they have not been moved at all for many many years.

In any case, if you find something's wrong with your furniture inside, it is probably something other than termites.

So how much is termite treatment? It depends...

There are just too many variables to consider when it comes to termite treatment. Pricing the work really depends on the size of the job, methods, conditions, and etc. Personally, I'd hire a professional as soon as I see any signs of termites. What you see on the surface is probably nothing compared to what could be going on inside your house structure. I wouldn't hesitate to contact a professional help. Don't get me wrong, I'm a DIY guy. I like to take care of things myself. But seriously, termite inspections need to be done by a professional.

I don't think I've seen any pest control companies charging a fee for a termite inspection. If they require to do more in-depth inspection using advanced tools, such as infrared gun, they might charge you. But they will tell you about it in advance.

Common Termite Treatment Options

Advance - Essentially a bait, this system lures the termites by offering two food sources which instantly interest the termites. The termites begin to consume it as food and over a particular period of time, which extends for about four months, entire colonies of termites are eliminated.

Termidor - One of the most commonly used remedies to treat termites; this product has gained immense popularity in the short period of its existence. The reason for this fame is not just the expediency in results and simplicity in application but is also the costs associated with it. Containing a chemical which is spread evenly throughout the house it is spread contagiously from one termite which comes in contact with it, to others.

Termite Treatment Costs

For most of the cases, home owners select chemical treatment using Termidor. It is less expensive compared to bait system and the cost of termite treatment can range from $500 - $3,000 in average. If you are going with Termidor, the length of effected house perimeter will be used to determine the price. For example, when I had Termidor around my house, I paid only $400 because two sides of my house were connected to neighbor's house wall. If it was a single house, I could've paid around $800.

Here is my suggestion. Get free quotes from at least three different pest control companies and compare the options and prices. It wouldn't hurt. After each inspection, most of the reps will pressure you to go forward with their service. I mean some serious pressure. I personally never go with a service that pressures me even if their price is cheaper. It's just shows you what kind of company they are. I'd avoid these companies.

If the price is really high for your situation, ask for financing options. Sometimes, you might get better deal getting financed by them rather than using your credit card. But always consider that opening another line of credit might hurt your credit if you get a financing.

So good luck with your termite treatment and please report your price to me so I know what the current prices are. Thanks.

Get termite treatments in Arizona. I found these pest control companies that offers termite treatment in Arizona. If you have used them in the past, please leave your review. Thanks.

Poor Boy Termite Control
Phone) 480-994-4240 or 1-888-994-4240
Online Contact
Poor Boy Termite Control has a very informative website on their termite treatment service. Take a look at their photos and learn how they perform termite inspections. It is a local family owned company since 1976 servicing most areas in Arizona.

Burns Pest Elimination
Phone) 602-334-4899
Fax) 602-870-4563
Online Contact
Burns Pest Elimination is a 25 years old company. They offer 24/7 emergency service.

If you want your termite control company to be listed here, use our contact form. We list for free.